Reviews

In this somewhat academic yet accessible study, psychologist Cohen ( Sleep and Dreams ) probes the inner forces that shape our lives and creative powers but can cause occasional blues or chronic depressive illness as well. He cites cases of ``bipolar'' patients who alternate between states of depression and manic euphoria, often masking their true feelings with deceptive expressions or a ``happy'' activity. The author asserts that if ignored, such disorders, especially if aggravated by feelings of hopelessness, can lead to suicide. Enriching the text with examples from history (famous suicides, depression-prone Lincoln) and literary allusions, Cohen concludes that genes play a greater role than environment in affecting mental health, and that cure--with or without professional help--lies in self-knowledge. Photos not seen by PW . (June)

Cohen (psychology, Univ. of Texas-Austin) tackles depression and the age-old question of heritability vs. environment. At any time in the United States, depression affects one in 20 people; suicide is the country's eighth leading cause of death, roughly translating to one percent of the population, even with underreporting. Cohen discusses environmental problems like seasonal affective disorder (SAD), circadian rhythms, and depression's relationship to binge eating, anorexia, and smoking. He shows that tests to measure depression are inaccurate at best, but thanks to the creativity, intellect, and intuitiveness of ``science-mindedness,'' continued theorizing is possible. Exploring the literary, scientific, and philosophical meanings of depression, Cohen fairly presents both sides of the heritability-environment debate. Recommended for academic and medical libraries.-Lisa Wise, Univ. of Southern Colorado, Pueblo